Vertical Aerospace has announced two major milestones in its electric aviation programme, including the start of integration testing for its next-generation hybrid-electric propulsion system and production of the first all-electric Valo battery from its upgraded manufacturing line.
The company said the developments support both its all-electric Valo aircraft programme and future hybrid-electric aircraft variants aimed at expanding operational range and mission flexibility.
“Hybrid capability complements our all-electric Valo platform and unlocks a broader range of civil and defence applications,” said Stuart Simpson, Chief Executive of Vertical Aerospace. “At the same time, advancing our battery technology and manufacturing capability is critical to certification and scaling production. Together, these milestones demonstrate the strength and breadth of our technology platform.”
Vertical said its hybrid-electric propulsion system has entered testing at the company’s Hybrid Propulsion Evaluation Rig (HYPER) facility located at its Flight Test Centre at Cotswold Airport.
The HYPER testing programme follows more than two years of development work at the company’s Vertical Energy Centre.
According to Vertical, the facility enables full integration and validation testing of the hybrid-electric powertrain, including the turbine, electric generator and associated electrical systems, while also evaluating control software, fault response scenarios and system architecture before future ground and flight testing.
The company is working with multiple partners to integrate a sustainable aviation fuel-compatible gas turbine with an electric generator system.
Vertical said the resulting turbogenerator system will be installed into a prototype hybrid-electric Valo aircraft for future flight demonstrations and technology validation.
The hybrid-electric aircraft variant is expected to significantly expand operational capability compared with the all-electric version.
Vertical is targeting up to 1,000 miles of range for the hybrid-electric aircraft, representing a tenfold increase over the all-electric Valo platform. The company also said the aircraft could support payloads of up to 1,100 kilograms and offer lower heat and acoustic signatures suited to defence and sensitive operational missions.
The company added that the hybrid-electric system is being designed to support both crewed and autonomous operations, including remote and pilot-assisted missions.
Vertical is pursuing certification of the hybrid-electric aircraft variant with both the UK Civil Aviation Authority and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency.
Separately, Vertical announced production of the first battery from its upgraded battery assembly line at the Vertical Energy Centre.
The 15,000-square-foot facility was upgraded in March 2026 with automated aerospace-grade manufacturing systems designed to improve battery production consistency, efficiency and scalability.
The company said the battery packs will undergo environmental and operational testing and will support certification aircraft as Vertical advances through final certification stages with UK and European aviation regulators.
Battery systems produced at the facility are also expected to support initial commercial production ahead of aircraft entry into service.
Vertical said its autonomous flight control architecture is being developed in collaboration with Honeywell.